POEA chief: Pinoy crew lauded for taking care of abandoned Syrian refugees

Now it can be told: 10 Filipino crew members of a Dutch cargo ship received kudos for looking after 393 Syrian refugees the seafarers rescued in December 2014.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration head Hans Leo Cacdac on Sunday narrated the Filipinos were serving on the M/V Erasmusgracht when it chanced on the refugees at sea.

"Noong ika-6 ng Disyembre, 2014, ang barko at ang magigiting na crew members nito ay nag-salba at nag-likas ng 393 na Syrian refugees sa Ionian Sea, mga 250 milya ang layo sa Timog Silangan ng Italia," he said.

He said the refugees' ship had been stranded, abandoned by the crew without food or water

The stranded refugees had included children and infants, he added.

"All night, the crew moved around looking after the refugees and providing food and water continuously ... The commitment of the crew and the good behavior of all refugees had been of utmost importance," Cacdac quoted the Erasmusgracht's captain Joop van Zadel as saying.

"Mabuhay ang crew ng M/V Erasmusgracht! Mabuhay ang Pilipinong Marino! Mabuhay ang mga OFW! Happy Easter po!" Cacdac said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News

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